Balancing device for roller-skaters



(No Model.)

G. D. KAYBS.

BALANGING DEVICE FOR ROLLER SKATBRS. No. 339,786. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE D. KAY ES, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

BALANCING DEVICE FOR ROLLER-SKATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,786, dated April 13, 1886.

Application filed November 18, 1855. Serial No, 153,175.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D.KAYES, I citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jerscy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balancing Devices for Roller- Skaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to balance a person learning to skate on rollers, and thus to avoid the expense heretofore incurred in hiring at the rinks young men as teachers for such persons.

The invention consists in the peculiar arrangements and combinations of parts, substantiall y as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which likelcttersindicate corresponding parts in each of the figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof, to sh ow the a rrangement of the rollers and the brake adapted to retard the motion of the skater when in the act of skating; and Fig.3isadetail section showing a preferred form of construction.

In said drawings, a is a body, made preferably of cast iron or bearing a heavy weight, which acts as a ballast to steady and support the skater. Said bodyis provided with rollers or wheels 1) 31,10 enable the said body to move freely over the floor with the skater. These are disposed at distances apart to give abroad surface-bearing, whereby the skater is enabled to balance himself more perfectly. The weighted body is provided with a suitable socket, c, to receive a handle, d d, by which the balancing device is operated, the said socket being preferably on an incline, as shown, to throw a straight handle-rod, cl, back from the body a, so that the crossbar d of said handle, or the vertical plane thereof, will be so far distant from the body as that the latter will not in terfere with the movements of the skater.

In connection with the handled weight I (No model.)

have provided a brake bar or rod, 0, which extends from a point near the handle, where it may be easily operated by the hand resting on the handle-bar 11 through the body, and engages a spring-actuated friction piece or brake, f. This may be abloek of rubber, g, fastened on the ends of a spring, 7:, which latter is in turn secured on the bottom of the body, as indicated in the drawings. The spring 1) coacts with the spring h to hold the brake from the surface of the floor when the rod 0 is relieved of the pressure of the hand, though one or the other of said springs may be dispensed with.

In lieu of the arrangement shown, the frictionpiece may be secured on the end of the rod 6, or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Said rod e works in suitable bearings, r r, and is preferably made in adj nstable sections, whereby its length may be increased or diminished to suit the size of the skater. The handle, likewise, may be made adjustable either in the socket or by any suitable means for the same purpose.

In providing bearings for the rollers I prefer to cast recesses x in the bottom of the body, in which the said rollers are secured by means of any suitable pins, i.

The operation of the device will be apparent. By placing the hands on the cross-bar d, the skater is steadied suliiciently to enable him to move forward with confidence, pushing the device before him. (laining confidence and practice, he is soon enabled to dispense with the balance and skate alone, having been taught without the expense of a teacher.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is l. A balancingder ice for roller-skaters,conibining therein a weighted body arranged on rollers, a handle, and abrake, said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein set forth.

2. In combination, the weighted body carried by rollers, a handle to push the same forward, a brake actuated by a rod extending to a point near the hand-piece of said handle, and a spring to hold said brake from frictional contact, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, the metal body a, provided with wheels I), an inclined handle, and 5. In a balancing device for roller-skaters, a brake having an actuating-bar extending to the rod e, actuating the friction piece or brake a point near the hand piece or portion of the and adapted to be lengthened or shortened to handle, substantially as herein set forth. suit the size of the skater. 1 5 4. In combination, in abnlancing device for In testimony that I claim the foregoing I skaters, aweight,a, rollers b, socket c,hand1el have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of bar (1', cross-bar d, braking-piece adapted to November, 1885. enter into frictional contact with the floor, GEORGE I). KAYES. and a rod, held in suitable bearings and Vitnesses: 10 adapted to depress said friction or braking i (HuRLns H. PERL, piece, substantially as herein set forth. 1 MARY L. Peril. 

